Solar Washington is a nonprofit organization composed of people, companies, programs and organizations working to advance the solar industry in our state. We are an association of solar energy equipment owners, manufacturers, system integrators, distributors, dealers, designers, installers, consultants, students, teachers, and solar enthusiasts. Through education and networking, we promote the development and effective use of solar and renewable energy with concern for the economic, environmental and social fabric of Washington.

The first question often asked about Habitat for Humanity Kitsap County's (HFHKC) Harris Court project is “Solar Electric on low income family homes … really?” The answer is, “Yes, thanks to advances in photovoltaic technology, solar electric power makes great sense for low income family homes.” This edition of Project of the Month gives a broad picture of HFHKC's solar neighborhood at Harris Court in Port Orchard.

Habitat for Humanity in Kitsap County began over 22 years ago and has a long term and fiscally responsible approach to building small, decent, affordable, and “long term sustainable” energy efficient homes. HFHKC has built individual homes on single lots and full neighborhoods in Kitsap County. The first homes that included solar power were complete in 2011. Harris Court will be HFHKC's 4th neighborhood and the largest project completed in which all of the homes have solar panels on the roof. Once complete, it will be largest single family home solar neighborhood in Washington State. Says HFHKC's Director Daryl Daugs, "Habitat for Humanity has a long history of being on the leading edge of building homes that are green and sustainable. Our goal is to move families out of substandard housing into owning a home that is affordable for the long term. Moving into solar PV is a natural progression."

Join Solar Washington on Wednesday, March 4 from 6-8pm in the Community Hall at the Phinney Community Center in Seattle for our bi-monthly public General Meeting where industry professionals and the general public discuss current solar related policies, business practices, installation techniques, current equipment and technologies and more. Free and open to the public. $5 donation from non Solar Washington members greatly appreciated.

Featured at the March 4 General Meeting:

An update on current solar related leglisation and policies in Olympia with Jeremy Smithson of Puget Sound Solar and President of Solar Installers of Washington.

A presentation on rules for homeowners associations (HOAs) as they relate to solar installations in their communities presented by Kathleen Kapla, attorney with Keyes Fox & Wiedman LLP whose firm has been been engaged with NW SEED and other stakeholders on the Northwest Solar Communities effort in Oregon and Washington. Click to read the discussion paper addressing solar and HOAs.

Shedding the Light on Solar: Homeowners talk about what solar has done for them and how it has affected their utility bill, among other things.

Presentations subject to change.

If you are unable to be at the meeting in person, you can listen in remotely. Simply follow these instructions:
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/682811693
+1 (224) 501-3412; Access Code: 682-811-693

This is a free event, but a $5 suggested donation from non Solar Washington Members to help us cover the costs of providing this event would be greatly appreciated.

The Solar Foundation has released its 2014 jobs figures which are viewable on its website. The TSF’s State Solar Jobs Map provides top-level employment figures and policy information for all fifty states and the District of Columbia. The map was designed to be an easy-to-use resource for the public and solar energy stakeholders. The state figures are updated annually using a dual-methodology based on thousands of data points from the most recent National Solar Jobs Census, the Solar Energy Industries Association’s National Solar Database, and other sources.

An independent nonprofit founded in 1977 and based in Washington, DC, The Solar Foundation's mission is to increase understanding of solar energy through strategic research that educates the public and transforms markets.

In 2014 Solar Washington collected data from solar installers and manufacturers directly involved in the solar industry in Washington State in order to gain insight into the solar industry's collective impact upon the state economy. Based on data collected reflecting business activity in 2013, the results show that for every one dollar of the Washington State solar incentive redirected to PV system owners, the state sees $2.46 injected back into the local economy. In the case of 2013 installations, $48.2M will be injected in to the economy as a result of the $19.6M that the state will pay out in solar incentives. “Based on the data we’ve gathered, solar incentives in Washington State pay for themselves many times over and are a boon to the state economy," said David Nicol, Board President of Solar Washington.

Here’s how the $48M breaks out as injections into the Washington local economy:

$25.4 million in payroll

$21.5 million in equipment purchases from in-state suppliers and vendors

$1.3 million in tax revenues to state and local governments (B&O, Sales, Business Permits)